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Sunday, January 5, 2014

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill ★★★★★

A HELLUVA RIDE

NOS4A2 in USA
(pronounced Nosferatu)

NOS4R2 elsewhere

This is one of
those stories where fifty pages in you realize you’re having the best reading
fun you’ve had in ages. You don’t know where it’s going and you don’t care. It’s
a ride, and you realize you are in the hands of a capable author.

It’s no surprise
that Joe Hill’s “NOS4A2” is so captivating, as many have felt the same way when
reading one of his Father’s books. Joe Hill, son of Stephen King, has entered
his father’s domain. And, like his Father, he can tell a mean story and create characters
with rich inner lives.

This is his
third novel (“Horns” and “Heart Shaped Box”). This story is comparable to the
best work of King, and at near 700 pages it’s just as weighty. It’s such a
great read, though, you will be glad for every page.

We meet a
young tomboy, Vic McQueen, who has a special gift. When she cycles fast enough,
while thinking about a lost object, she magically crosses over the
no-longer-in-existence “Shorter
Way Bridge.” The bridge always takes her to the geographical location of the lost
object.

Charlie Manx
is a nasty creature who kidnaps young children whom he believes are at risk of an
unhappy future. Creepy sidekick, Bing, relishes his role which is killing the
children’s parents. The kidnapped children are transported to the strange,
magical Christmasland, via Charlie’s 1934 Rolls Royce Wraith, number plate
NOS4A2. Along the way the children’s goodness is stolen, so they arrive no
longer human sporting little, sharp teeth.

When Vic and
Charlie’s paths cross, she becomes the only child to ever escape him, and Charlie
finds the adult Vic a determined, dangerous adversary.

The depth of
the characters, who are flawed, broken people struggling with huge issues, make
this a superior horror story. In “NOS4A2” Hill has created a comprehensive,
well imagined world. If you love horror, if you love great writing, if you love
reading a story where you can’t predict the end, then climb into “NOS4A2.” It’s
one helluva ride.

Joe Hill is a recipient of the RAY BRADBURY FELLOWSHIP
and the winner of the A.E. COPPARD LONG FICTION PRIZE, WILLIAM CRAWFORD, WORLD
FANTASY, BRITISH FANTASY, BRAM STOKER and INTERNATIONAL HORROR GUILD AWARDs.

His short fiction has appeared in literary, mystery and horror collections and
magazines in Britain and America.

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Susan May is a writer; so she is an avid reader. Her taste is eclectic, and she's not a literary snob. Susan has gathered together some other crazed readers (mostly other Mum's she knows) so that you can read more reviews read by critics who enjoy that genre. So, you will find reviews here based on whether the book delivers what it promises. We haven't got time to read the ones that don't.

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Most of the comments about this book, good & bad are correct. It is not a well written book but really is in the end an engrossing story. It's no Gone With The Wind but there is enough drama to keep it interesting. It needs a good edit thou...